Cordage-machine.



No. 723,806. PATBNTED MAR. 31, 19.03.l

. n W. vH. AVIS. l GORDAGBMAGHINE. APPLIUATION'HLED JAN. 19, '1899. RBNBWBD AUG. 30,'1902. N40 MODEL. 7 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

l l/ l 'ZZ' l :1 I Z5 n ll l i i 5| I i i i l i L I Z I I 2 l l je l i vl l I l l E E No. 723,806. V PATENTED MAR. 31, 1903.

W. H. AVIS. CORDAGE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19, 1899. BENBWED AUG. 30, 1902.

S14/oowk@ gm i, f me l I l I I v l I A abro/mams mi Nonms Pneus co., Puoruum'o., wnsnmmon. u. x:v V I om. 0 9 l L 3 R.. A M, D E T N E T A P QM I V A E W 6. 0 8 00 2 7 nw .N

GORDAGE MACHINE. A APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 1o, 1899. BBNBWBD AUG- ao, 1902.

'1 SHEETS-SHEET 3 B0 MODEL.

PATENTBD MAR. s1, 1903.

R N I mw VA AM WD R nU c APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19, 1899. RENEWED AUG. 30, 190.2.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

H0 MODEL.

,806. PATBNTED MAR. 31

l W. H. AVIS.

GORDAGE MACHINE. APPLICATION FLED JA'N. 19, 1899. BENEWED AUG. 30, 1902.

SHEETS-SHEET 5.

N0 MODEL.

@Moz/nuff I PATBNTBD MAR. 31, 1903.

W. 11. AVIS. CORDAGE MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19, 1899. BENEWBD lAUG'. 30, 1902- 7 SHEETS-SHEET c.

H0 MODEL.

wwwmain Tn: nanars Prrsns co, Puoroumo.; wAsHlNuTnN. D. c.

PATENTE-D MAR. 3'1

y No. 723,806.

' lW. H. Avls. GORDAGE 'MMHINBl APPLICATION FILED JA-N. 19, 1899. EENEWED AUG. 30, 1902..

'I SHEETS-SHEET 7.

I0 MODEL.

WALTER H. AVIS,

'PAT-ENT OFFICE.

Ol" HORSEHEADS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ROBERT C.

FISHER, OF TORONTO, CANADA.

CORDAGE-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION' forming' part of Letters Patent No. 723,806, dated March 31, 1903.

Application filed January 19, 1899. Renewed August 30, 1902. Serial No. 121,698. (No model.)

the following to be a full, clear, and exactZ specification, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which such improvements relate to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improved machine and method for making twine, cord, or rope, and especiallya combined fibrous andwire cord, twine, or rope composed of strands, formed of threads or yarns of fibrous mate-2 rial and a single untwisted wire upon which` said threads or yarns are primarily laid substantially parallel thereto and then twisted thereon, at the same time doubling or folding the threads or yarns upon each other, thusL formingasingle strand, then doubling or folding such strands together to form a cord, and also in forming a core for said cord or rope consisting of a plurality of said strands primarily formed a's above stated and vthen wound together, and a covering for said core consisting of the same primary strands laid around the core. This cord is illustrated in detail in Figure 22 of theaccompanying drawings, and its construction will be further described hereinafter.

The functions to be performed by my machine in making such a cord consist, therefore, of feeding the yarns and wire, twisting the yarns with great force upon the wire, most compactly covering and insulating it, then doubling the strands, then forming the core, and then laying and cabling the outer strands upon the core. As these functions are performed simultaneously, the cord may be said to be made in one operation. Mymachine for making such article is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in wliich- Fig. l is a central vertical section of the machine; Fig. 2, asimilar View of a single ringframe, inclosed fliers, and bobbins, and connected operating mechanism; Fig. 3, an elevation, partly in section, of flier-frame, supporting-roller, and compressing and nipping mechanism; Fig. et, a top plan of a circular deck,central and outer ring-fram es, fliers, and

yarn-bobbins; Fig. 5, a plan of spider-quadrant-slotted frame withI cog-gearing omitted; Fig. 6, a vertical section of the same.; Fig. 7, a top plan of gear mechanism o'n line a: c of Fig. l; Fig. S, a section on line'm of Fig. 3; Fig. 9, a detail of yarn-bobbin presser; Fig. lO, an enlarged detail showing the threads as they are laid parallel upon the wire in two straight flat layers 0r rows and as they are twisted into two strands and the strands as theyare simultaneously twisted around a central wire; Fig. 1l, a detail plan section of plate for supporting rods for removable horizontal bobbin-spindle; Fig. 12, aplan detailof roller tensionfdevice; Fig. 13, a detail plan of de? vice for guiding and distributing the finished cord onto the reel; Fig. I4, a detail section of the carriage and clutch in said device; Fig. I5, a detail of cord smoothing and finishing box having a spiral groove; Figs. 16, 17, and 18, top, bottom, and sectional views of the top; Figs. 19, 20, and 2l, details of a yarnbobbin tension device; Fig. 22, a detail in elevation showing a specimen of the completed cord or rope produced by thismachine; and Fig. 23, a detail cfa capstan and wing-nut for changing the capstans'l VReferencebeing had to the drawings, the framework consists of threeseparate circular decks or platforms A A' A2` and atop supporting piece or frame A3.l The main driving mechanism is located between the base A and the middle deck A', the bobbin-vand flier mechanism between the middle and upper decks A' and A2, and the laying, stretching,

cabling, and reeling mechanisms between thering-frame is connected to a shaft C'of each ring-frame by arms B3, all as shown in Figs'. 1l,

4, 5, and 6. l Within each outer ring-frame'B are two fliers D D, andvwithin the central ring-frame B' there are placed three fliers D',

making in all fifteen flier-frames and seven ring-frames. Each set of fliers is connected with a rotary head C. Each flier-frame carries two twin bobbinsD2D2, wound with yarns d5, mounted on a removable horizontal spindle D4, Fig. 3, and separated by a channel d2, formed by two uprights d3, fixed to hub b4. At its center each rotary head C is keyed to a shaft C', which extends down between the iiiers and to which is keyed a bracket G, carrying wire bobbins G. A wire d" passes up from each bobbin G through the channel (l2. The heads C and bobbins G' are rotated by shaft C in the same direction by means hereinafter described. My invention, however, is not restricted to the employment of the precise number of ring-frames, fliers, rotary heads, and bobbins herein shown, as the same may be varied to conform to the employment of a greater or less number of threads, yarns, and strands of fiber and wire, as may be desired in the making of various sizes of cord and rope. The operations of forming the cord in the order and in the manner hereinafter described are essential.

Although in order to render the drawings herein clear a single thread only is shown drawn from each of the bobbins, yet in practice in making a cord, rope, or twine herein shown and a machine of the character herein illustrated six yarns of fibrous material are drawn from each of the twin bobbins D2 and twisted on one thread of wire from a bobbin G' to form a single strand.

Each of the yarn-Dobbins D is provided with a spring presser-arm D3 (see Fig. 9) in one piece, the lowerend of which terminates in a coiled spring on a rod near the bottom of the flier-frame and the upper en'd of which terminates in a spoon-shaped head, the function of which is to press upon the yarn and prevent any undue slack or misadjnstnicnt thereof as the same is fed out.

Each flier-frame is connected to the rotary head C by means of a conical bracket D, secured to the top of the flier-frame and adapted to fit so as to turn in a correspondinglyshaped recess in a boss b2 of the rotary head. As willl hereinafter be seen, the fliers rotate in the rotary head C. Hence the loose connection between the two andthe two adjacent bearing-surfaces maybe lubricated by any suitable means. To a short hollow shaft or hub b, fixed in disk f2 at the bottom of each Hier-frame, is secured to turn loosely thereon a roller E, fixed to flier-frame D, which roller in turn bears against aring F, secured to the inner part of the ring-frame B. The rings are to drive the rollers E and fliers by frictional con tact at a greater speed than the rotary head C by speed-gearing of the driving mechanism hereinafterdescribed, and the rollers aid in guiding and maintaining the fliers and bobbins in proper position for doing the work of twisting the yarns upon a wire. Each ofthe outer ring-frames B is h ung on the shaft C and turns loosely upon it, and

at the lower end of this ring-frame there is secured rigidly a bevel -gear B2, connected with the main driving mechanism, as hereinafter described.

A spring tension device is employed for maintaining and automatically controlling the pressure of the rollers E against the rings F. Thisdevice (shown in Figs. 2 and 12) is composed of a disk f2, having a hub b, which is keyed to the shaft C', and which disk carries the h ub b, on which rollers E and flierframes are mounted. Recesses f4 are formed in this disk, and a spiral springf3 is placed in each recess. A bifurcated sliding block b3 is placed in each recess, its forked ends embracing the short hollow shaft b'lon which a roller E and a flier-frame are loosely mounted. One end,the inner end of spiingf3,beats against the closed end of a recess f4, and the opposite end of the spring bears against the head of the forked block b3. The rollers E are rotated by the rings F, as elsewhere described, and the action of the above-mentioned spring f3 against the post b" holds the roller against the ring-frame through the intermediate bearing Z13. On the uprights d3, forming the channel d2, and within each flierframe are secured two spring-nippel' fingers 71, to nip the wire d4 as it comes from its spools and prevent its twisting by the twisting action of the yarns, as hereinafter explained.

Within the conical bracket D3, above referred to and as best shown in Fig.3, are placed conical heads I2 and two compressing-jaws I I, and to the back of each of these jaws are secured flipper-fingers The conical heads I2 are cast on the top .cross-piece 14 of flierframe D and revolve with it. The jaws I are secured to push-rod m and bear against the heads 12, but are not secured to the latter, and the nipper-fingers t3 are fastened at their lower ends to the jaws I, the rod m passing through the same. Between thejaws Iand the conical heads I2 the yarn is flattened tape-like, conducted by the jaws to the wire and pressed against the wire, and the wire is additionally held straight by the jaws to prevent its twisting or distortion from a straight line when the yarns are applied thereto. The yarns (Z5 pass up between the jaws I and the heads I2 and are twisted onto the wire (ll just above the ejaws I at the point d6. (See Fig. 3 and as also shown in Fig. 10.) The combined yarns and wire forming the single strand (ZT, Figs. 10 and 22, is then nipped by the fingers 3 to confine the twist of the yarns on the wire to the point near the compressing-jaws I and to prevent the twisting of the wire and yarn above that point by the action of the fliers. The pressure of the jaws I and the spring-nippers 3 is controlled and regulated by means of the push--rods m, passing through box m2 and impinging on the nippers and jaws. A spiral spring m' surrounds the rod within the box, which is provided with a screw-cap m3 and against which cap the spring bears, the oppo- IIO site end of the spring bearing against the nippers and jaws. When the jaws and nippers are pushed in by the rods or released, the tension of the spring holds them in position, which tension is regulated by the adjustment of the screw-cap.

In regard to the action of the nipping-'fingers and jaws upon the wire as above described it is added that the spools G', which carry the wire, being secured by brackets to the central shaft C', are simply carried aroundk by said shaft in the same direction as the flierframes and yarn-bobbins and have no independent motion of their own except an unwinding one to reel off the wire and that the gear capstan mechanism above the ringframes B has the sole function on the wire of drawing it off. Hence the wire is drawn off yarns.

its reels in a straight untwisted condition; but the strong twisting'of the yarns upon the wire produced by the-fliers and rollers E and their actuating mechanism and which rollers are hung directly over the wire-bobbins and rotatein an opposite direction to that in which the wire-reels are carried have a strong tendency to twist the wire, and this tendency is met and prevented by the Dipper-fingers and jaws above described. These nipper-fingers and jaws, although carried by the flier-frames and in the. same direction, yet have a slipping hold on the wire, at the same time such a hold as to prevent the formation -of spiral folds on the wire by the twisting action of the The action of the fingers and jaws is not to oppose a contrary movement to the twisting action of the threads, but to hold the wire so straight and rigid longitudinally as to prevent kinks or spiral folds being formed therein by lateral twisting strain.

In place of the spindle D4and ordinary bobbin-spool each bobbin may be provided with a tension device (shown in detail in Figs. 19, 20, and 2l) for holding the bobbin steady in and against its supports and preventing a toofree play of the yarn. The wire-spools may also be so provided. This device consists of the hollow body L of the spool, which is supported on standards j' within the Afiierframes. In the body L is a spiral spring Z, abutti ng at one end against the end of L, while its opposite end is secured to the head Z of a plunger-rod Z2. The rod Z2 abuts against a shoulder in one of the supporting-standards j. A push-rod Z4, connected to an upright spring-plate Z5, is employed to push against the rod Z2 when it is desired to remove the spool froln the standards. To facilitate this removal, the inner face of the standard j is beveled, as shown in Fig. 20, so that when the plunger-rod Z2 is pushed in its end will slide down the said beveled face and out of j the box. On top of each rotary head C are fingers Z2. The function of these. grooved rods is to smooth,polish, and finish the strands before they are wound together. There are fifteen of these rods, one for each completed single strand. The two strands from the smoothing-rods are drawn in to the hollow shaft C', and there wound together at the point o, Fig.- 2. The two strands thus united form one double strand d8, Fig. 22. The means used for this purpose will now be de scribed. Above the deck A2 and over the fiiers is located the first drawing-capstan O.` The gearing for operating this capstan is a speedreducing onedriven from shaft C and consisting of spurs 02 o3 o4 on shaft C, engaging, respectively, with spurs o5 0i o7 on capstanpost 02, which post has a bearing in the upper deck A2. The gear o2, fast on shaft C', drives the larger gear 05, fast on spindle o8. Gear o6, fast on spindle 08 and driven through said spindle by 05, `drives larger gear 03, which is loose on shaft C'. Gear o4 is coupled to o3 and drives larger gear o7, which is loose on spindle 0S. The capstan O is fastened to gear o7 and is driven by it. Speed is thus reduced from gear o2 to o7 at a rate, say, of one hundred revolutions at 02'to twelve and onehalf revolutionsjat o7. The drawing faster or slower is accomplished by putting in larger or smaller capstans. By the operation of this mechanism the doubling of the strands together commences and is finished at o ,and is effected by rotation of the shaft C. The drawing of the yarn and wire from their bobbins and the doubled strands from the hollow part of the shaft is effected by the capstan.

The forming top and drawing and reeling mechanisms are placed over and supported on the upper deck A2 and between it and the roof-piece A3. P is the top, (shown in Figs 16, 17, and 18,) which is fixed` in a frame on the deck A2 and over the central ringframe and fliers'. It is provided with outer channels q and a center channel q'. Just below the top and within the hollow portion of the central shaft S,is formed thecore d2, Fig. 22, consisting of three single` strands CZ7, formed by the three central fliers twisted together at that point. Through the top P are led this core and the double strands Z8 from the outer fliers, and at the point 5 just above the top is formed the completed cord d10 by the winding of the strands (Z8 upon the core CZ". Gear mechanism for the final operations of drawing, stretching, and reeling the completed cord are connected to a fixed hollow shaft P2. Through this shaft proceeds the completed cord to capstans R R', the stretching-frame T, and finally to the reel rc2 at the top of the machine.

The means and method of the winding operation of the double strands on the core are as follows: The capstan R, Fig. l, draws the cords cZ8 from the capstans O', through the top P, and also the strands forming the core d from the central revolving head C. The winding of the strands upon the core at the ICO IlO

IIS-

point -is eected by the bevel-gear P11, secured to circular plate R5, which supports the whole final winding and 'reeling mechanism. Bevel-gear Pl is mounted on stationary shaft or post P2 and engages with and is driven by spur-gear P7 on horizontal shaft P8, carrying bevel-gearPf), meshing with bevel-gear P10 on top of vertical shaft P11, which latter shaft is rotated through bevels P12 P13, the latter keyed to the main horizontal drivin g-shaft P14 at the bottom of the machine. The shaft P2 runs through the plate R5 and its sleeve, which are cast onto bevel P11, to plate p4 on frame p5, rising from the deck A2. The shaft P2, platep4, and framep5 are cast in one piece.

R is the iirst capstan around which the laid cord is drawn after it leaves the top, and from which it is passed aro-und a capstan R', driven faster than R. The capstan R is driven ata speed reduced from bevel P6 and a less speed than capstan R', whereby a strong and tight lay will be imparted to the rope. The capstan R' is adapted to slide upon a post R2, which is provided with a spiral spring R2, supporting said capstan, whereby the capstan is permitted to move up and down on the post, so as to draw the cord from capstan R and to hold it as it is wound upon the last reel at a uniform and proper tension.

W1 is a set-screw to t the removable capstan to its support. As shown in Fig. 23, the set-screw is attached to a bolt 102, passed through the center of the capstan. When a capstan is to be changed, the set-screw is removed froin the bolt, the bolt withdrawn, inserted through another capstan, and the setscrew applied. Y

T is a stretching and reeling frame placed above the winding-capstans Rand R' and supported from the ceiling or top support A3 by means of a yoke W', stepped in support A3. It is also connected to the shafts R2 R4, which rest in the bottom cross-plate R5, and by and between which rods and plate all the upper gearing for operating the stretching-frame and reel is carried. On top of the stretchingframe is carried the reel W2, on which the completed cord is wound. The function of the stretching-frame is, first, to carry the cord along the reel W2 as it is wound and to distribute it smoothly and freely thereon, and, second, to stretch the cord by the winding action of the reel, so as to keep the cord taut as it comes from the capstans and to thus lay the cord smoothly and tightly upon the reel. To this end the stretching-frame is provided with a rotary right and left hand screw-rod S2, worked by a worm S2 on rotating shaft R4, which engages witha Worm-wheel S1 on the screw-rod S2. SG is hung on rods SS in the stretcher-frame, to which is swiveled a forked clutch S5, the lingers of the clutch adapted to engage with the grooves in the rod S2. The cord coming from capstan R passes through a hole S7 in the carriage S11, and from thence around the As the rod S2 rotates', the fingers of rcel W2.

A reciprocating carriage the sliding clutch continuously engage with one of the grooves and the carriage and the cord are carried along to one or the other end of the reel, and then the lingers engage with the other groove and the cord and carriage are carried back as the cord is wound upon thereel. The shaft of reel W2 is driven by a band and pulley connection 'L02 from the grooved shaft S2. The frame T is provided with a standard T2, which is hinged to T at 19 and which has at its upper end a bearing for the reel-rod T3. By this arrangement the standard T2 is slipped olf the rod T3and turned down, which permits the reel W2 to be removed froin the rod T3 and be replaced by another one. The pulleys carrying the band w3 are speeded sufciently high to stretch the cord.

The spur-and-pinion gearing referred to above as carried by rods R3 and R4 and plate R5, actuated through bevel-gear P6, consists of large spur t2, fast on rod R2, engaging with a smaller cog t, fast on sleeve of shaft P2; 155,

fast on shaft R4; t7, fast on R3, meshing with intermediate spur t2, loose on shaft P2, and spur t2, fast on shaft R4, meshing with spur i510, loose on shaft P2, and on gear 10 is secu red a frame 11, on which the winding-capstau R is secured.

Referring now to the main driving mechanism at the lower part of the machine, it will be noticed that the central shaft S for driving the central fliers is stepped with roller-bearings in the top of the vertical driving-shaft V, which latter extends up through a hub 6, on which center the arms B2, carrying the central ring-frame B', and is supported at its lower end on ball-bearings within a boX V', bolted to the base of the machine. The gear 1 being thus secured to shaft V, the central ring-frame is driven thereby. The central shaft S drives the three central fliers by means of spur-gearing now to be described. Just above the deck A' and keyed on the main shaft V is a spur-gear 1, which meshes with a smaller loose spur-gear 2 on post 7, xed on one of the arms B2, and coupled to gear 2 on same post is larger loose gear 4. Gear 4 meshes with smaller spur-gear 3, fast on shaft S. The effect of this arrangement is to give the shaft S double the speed of shaft V. Below and connected to the circular deck A is a quad rant-slotted guide-plate A4, (see Figs. 5 and 6,) and between this deck and plate are located a gearing for driving the fliers and ring-frames, a plan viewof which is given in Fig. 7. This gearing consists of a large central spur 8, secured fast on shaft V, which engages with separate loose pinions 9, mounted, respectively, on posts a1, which are stationary, but removably secured to quadrant-slotted guide A4. On the posts af and over pinions 9 are secured running pinions 10, engaging with spurs 11, fast on iiier-shafts C'. To the last-named shafts, just above spurs l1, are secured fast bevel-gears 12. Each gear 12 engages with vertical bevel 13, mount- IOO TIO

y frames, which carry the rollers.

ed loosely on pin 21 in fixed bracket 22. Gear 13 engages with horizontal bevel B2, secured fast to ring-frame B, turning loosely on sleeve 20. Each sleeve 2O is loosely mounted with roller-bearings 27 on .shaft C and rests on ball-bearings 23, the balls 23 placed between loose collars 24 on shaft C'. Each post c7 is provided at its lower end with a nut 25, which holds it fast in quadrant-slotted guide A4, and the pinion l0 is held in position on post a7 by spring-key 26. By loosening nut 25 the post c7 and the pinion 10 can be moved in slot as, Fig. 5, to disengage it from spur-gear l1, and then by removing spring-key 26 pinion lO'can be removed from its p'ost and a larger pinion substituted to engage with pinion 1l for the purpose of increasing the speed of the fliers driven by shaft C' and of the ring-frame driven .by the train of gearing 8, 9, 10, and ll from the shaft V. Ball-bearings are placed between the rotating hub of the central spur 8 and the hub 6 of the arms B3. Keyed to the hub of gear S is the horizontal bevel-gear 1S, meshing with-vertical bevel 17 on end of horizontal shaft P14. Both gear 8 and gear 1S are thus coupled together and secured fast to shaft V. The machine is driven from the shaft P14 by any suitable power.

By the construction and operation of the parts as above described it will be seen that the first step in the construction of a cord by my machine is to carry the yarns orthreads of fibrous material from the yarn-bobbins to the single wire. Preparatory to twisting the threads upon the wire they are brought in a position substantially parallel with the wire at the point where the yarns and the wire pass through compressing-jaws I I. The next act is to twist the threads coming from the yarn -bobbins onto the wire, which is performed by the action of the nier-frames and the twisting-rollers E, driven by the shaft C and driven also at increased speed by the ring-frame B and rings F, the rings F turning in the same direction as the rollers E turn on their axes, but at the same time carried in a reverse direction to that of the flier- The next step is to smooth and polish each wired strand, which is done by carrying them over pulleys n2 and through the grooved rods. Then follows the folding of the two strands together. This is done by bringing them together from their opposite directions on revolving head C to the point o in the hollow part of the shaft C and by the action of shaft C carrying around said revolving head. During these operations the tension and drawing action upon thestrands has continued by means of the capstan-and-gear mechanism already described and which is provided for each set of fliers. By these means and operation a severe twist of the fibers upon the straight wire is had at or as near as possible at the point where the doubling of the strands commences, and all formation of knots or kinks is avoided. The wire by this process of winding v'the strands together is given a Wave-like spiral turn, but is not torsionally twisted, because the only effect of the doubling or winding is to carry the strands around a common axis and not to` twist the threads and wire of each strand separately about its own axis. Its molecular construction is thus not broken or weakened. Before the tinal completion of the cord the core is formed. This is accomplished by the three central fliers and bobbin mechanism already described, the central iiiers, yarn and wire bobbins, and ring-frames and ro1lers,&c., being the same in construction and operation as the outer ones. The central fliers, bobbins, and rollers to form the core are actuated from the central shaft S, which is rotated by th'e gearing from the main shaft V, as above described. The three core-strands are led into the hollow upper part of the shaft S and there wound together and then drawn through the center channel of the central top P, the outer strands at the same time being conducted up through the outer channels of the top, and all the strands are laid spirally upon each other and the cord completed at the point 5 just above the top P.

The final step of reeling has already been described, as well as the mode of operation and the changing the capstans to adjust the draw of the strands and the construction and operation of the gears to adjust the twist and lay of the strands.

Although the several steps in the entire operation have been thus severally described, yet they are all taken at the same time and by one general single operation of the machine.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. In a machine for making a combined fibrous and wire rope, cord or twine, in combination with a wire-carrier, means for carrying the librous threads, a winding mechanism forwinding the said threads around the wire, and means for imparting a torsional twist to the threads at the samev time that they are being Wound upon the wire, a gripper for holding the wire against twist or bending 'while the threads are being wound and twisted thereon, a drawing mechanism, and means intermediate the thread wrapping and twisting mechanism and said drawing mechanism for limiting the twist of the threads to the point ot' application of the threads to the wire, whereby said twisting action will not be carried forward into the operation Ofcompleting the rope, cord or twine, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for making a combined fibrous and wire rope, cord or twine, in combination with a bobbin for wire, bobbins for the fibrous threads, revoluble iers for said thread-bobbins, a ring-frame for rotating said iers, and means for driving said ringframe at a higher speed than the'revoluble speed of the fliers, whereby a strong, hard IOO IIO

torsional twist is put into the threads at the l same time that they are wound around the wire, and means for limiting the effect of said twisting action to the point of application of the threads to the wire, whereby the twist will not be carried into the operation of completing the rope, cord, or twine, and a drawing mechanism on said rope, cord, or twine, substantially as described.

3. In a machine for making a combined fibrous and wire rope, cord, or twine, in combination with bobbins for threads of fibrous material, a bobbin for wire, means for windingsaid threads on said wire, to form a strand, means to impart a torsional twist to said threads as they are so wound. dattening-jaws for threads, a wire-gripping device for bolding said wire straight and untwisted under the stress of the twist of said threads, d raw ing,r and doubling mechanisms, and means for limitingthe application of said torsional twist lo the point where the threads and wire are formed into a strand, whereby said ltwisting action will not be carried forward into the further steps of making the rope, substantially as described.

4. In a machine for making a combined fibrous and wire rope, cord or twine, in combinariou with a bobbin for wire, bobbins for threads of fibrous material, revoluble fliers for said thread-bobbins, a ring-frame for rotating said fliers, means for driving said ringframe at a greater speed than the revoluble speed of the fiiers, whereby a hard torsional twist will be given to the threads as they are wound on the wire, means for leading the fibrous threads for application to the wirein tiat tape-like sections, a wire-gripping device for holding said wire straight and untwisted under the stress of the twist of said threads, and a drawing mechanism, substantially as described. Y

5. In a machine of the character described the combination of means for holding a wire in a straight and nntwisted condition, means for twisting separate threads or yarns of fibrous material around said untwisted wire, thereby forming a single strand composed of an untwisted wire and said yarns twisted upon it, means for folding said single strands together 1o form a double strand or cord, means for winding upon each other several of said single strands to form a core, and means for winding said double strands or cords around said core to form a covering therefor, substantially as described.

6. In a machine of the characterdescribed, the combination with actuating means of a series of outer ring-frames and a central ringframe, a series of outer flier-frames within and carried by said outer ring-frames, two or more flier-frames within said central ringframe, twin yarn-bobbins mounted within each dier-frame, a rotary head loosely mounted on each set of iers and to which the yarns are carried, a shaft for carrying said rotary head, said shaft extending down between said Iiiers, wire-bobbins attached to the lower end of said shaft, means to rotate said shaft whereby the rotary head and wire-bobbins are carried in the same direction, arms forming a vertical channel through said flier-frames and between said yarnbobbins for conducting a wire to said 4rotary head, means to rotate said fliers in an opposite direction to said rotary heads and wire-bobbins, each of said ring-frames loosely mounted on the shaft of said rotary head, a gear rigidly secured tothe lower end of said shaft, said gear connected to the main driving mechanism, means for guiding said yarns to the wire, means fm' holding wire straight while the yarns are twisted thereon by the movement of the iers, and gear mechanism above said rotary heads connected to and driven by said central-ringframe shaft for drawing said yarns and wire during the operation of twisting the yarns onto said wire, substantially as described.

7. In a machine of the character described, in combination with a flierframe and its yarn and wire bobbins, arms forming a channel passing up through said flier-frame between the yarn-bobbins and through which a wire to be covered by the yarns is passed, and spring nipper-iingers secured to the opposite walls of said channel to nip the wire and pre-- vent its twisting by the twisting action of the yarns thereon, substantially as described.

8. In a machine of the character described in combination with a flier-flaineandits yarn and wire bobbins, a conical bracket secured to the top of the Hier-frame, conical heads within said bracket also secured to the flierframe, jaws secured to spring controlled press-rods, said jaws adapted to press fiat the yarns which are passed between them and the said heads, said jaws extended above the said heads and conducting the yarns to and pressing them and the wire together preparatory to the twisting of the yarns upon the wire, substantially as described.

9. In a machine of the characterdescribed in combination with a dier-frame, its yarn and wire bobbins, a conical bracket secured to the top of the dier-frame, conical heads within said bracket also secured to the flierframe, spring-controlled pressing-jaws bearing against said heads, and between which jaws and heads the yarns are pressed and passed and by which the yarns are conducted to the wire, and spring nipper-fingers connected to said jaws and adapted to nip the wire and yarns after the latter are twisted onto the wire and to prevent the further twisting of the wire and yarns above said lingers, substantially as described.

l0. In a Vertical machine of the character described the main framework of the machine consisting of three circular decks or platforms A, A', A2 and a top or roof support A3 in combination with the main driving mechanism consisting of gearing and the main vertical and horizontal driving-shafts mounted within and on the iirst and second decks A, A a series of outer ring-frames and IOC IIO

IIS

a central ring-frame and their supporting 'and operating shafts, connected with said driving mechanism and mounted between the said central decks A' and A2, said outer ring-frames each carrying within it a set of flier-frames, and said central ring-frame carrying two or more flier-frames, yarn-bobbins within each of said dier-frames and Wirebobbins below the same, guiding and speed rollers at the bottom of said dier-frames in contact with said ring-frames, rotary heads and smoothing and polishing rods on said heads, and on said upper middle deck A2 and between it and a supporting-roof A3 the top for forming the completed cord, drawing, stretching and reeling mechanisms, said upper drawing, stretching and reeling mechanisms connected with gearing 'and shafting driven from the base of the machine, Wherebyin the central part of the machine-core strands of combined yarn and wire are formed, and a central core composed of several of such strands is formed, and above the upper deck the forming of the completed cord is had by the winding of the outer strands upon the core, and the final stretching and reeling of the cord completed,substantially as de,

scribed.

l1. In a machine of the character described, a device for holding a bobbin steady in and against its supports and preventing a too free play of the yarns or wire, consisting of ahollow bobbin-spool, a frame carrying standards on which said spool is mounted, a spiral spring within said spool to press the spool against the standards, a plunger-rod in the hollow space for compressing the spring, said rod projecting out of said spool against a standard, a push-rod adapted to contact with said compressing-rod, and a Vertical spring-plate 4o outside of said standard to which said pushrod is connected, whereby the spool maybe removed from its standards by pushing the plunger-rod within the spool, substantially as described.

12. In a machine of the character described the combination with the main driving mechanism, the dier-frames and ring-frames and means for driving the fliers and ring-frames, of a circular deck or platform A4, provided 59 with quadrant-slots" a8, posts a7 removably, ixed in said slots by nuts, a loose pinion on said post engaging with a iixed spur on the main driving-shaft, a running pinion removably held on said post engaging with a fixed spur on the flier-frame shaft, whereby by loosening the said post the same may be moved in said slot to disengageits said run-- ning pinionfrom the flierframe pinion, and a larger pinion substituted therefor, for 6o the purpose of increasing the speed of the flier-frame and ring-frame, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my signatu rein the presence of two witnesses.

WALTER H. AVIS.

Witnesses:

I. B. COLEMAN, E. HoRToN. 

